John Williams: A Composer’s Life

John Williams: A Composer’s Life

John Williams has written some of the most famous film scores ever, from Star Wars to Indiana Jones to Jurassic Park. But before the blockbuster success, there was a kid growing up around jazz musicians in New York, and a young composer trying to find his voice. In this episode, journalist Tim Greiving [https://timgreiving.com/] takes us through John’s early life and career, from his years as a session player to the meeting with Steven Spielberg that changed everything. Along the way, we unpack the stories behind John’s early iconic scores, including the two-note terror of Jaws, the symphonic world of Star Wars, and the mysteries of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by ⁠⁠Defacto Sound⁠⁠ [https://defactosound.com/]. Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@dallastaylor.mp3?sub_confirmation=1] to see our video series. Follow Dallas on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/dallastaylor.mp3/], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@dallastaylor.mp3], ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/dallastaylorsound], and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dallastaylor/]. Support the show and get ad-free episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠20k.org/plus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://20k.org/plus]. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mystery.20k.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://mystery.20k.org/]. Buy the biography John Williams: A Composer’s Life [https://global.oup.com/academic/product/john-williams-9780197620885] wherever you get your books. Subscribe to Tim’s Substack Behind the Moon [https://behindthemoon.substack.com/], an exclusive dive behind the scenes of the book. Find out how you can get the iPhone 17 Pro at no cost with an eligible trade in at att.com/iphone [https://att.com/iphone], or by visiting an AT&T store. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Age of Audio: The Future of Podcasting (and 20k)

After making Age of Audio [https://www.aoamovie.com/], a feature documentary about the history of podcasting, filmmaker Shaun Michael Colón [https://www.instagram.com/openendedfilms/] sat down with Dallas for a revealing conversation about the state and future of this industry. Together, Dallas & Shaun unpack the shift toward celebrity chit chat shows, what gets lost in video, the real economics of making Twenty Thousand Hertz, and why highly crafted audio storytelling still matters. Learn about this year’s Listener Stories competition and submit your story at ⁠⁠20k.org/2026⁠⁠ [https://20k.org/2026]. For updates on Age of Audio, visit the ⁠⁠official website⁠⁠ [https://www.aoamovie.com/], or follow the film on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/aoamovie] and ⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@aoamovie]. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by ⁠⁠⁠Defacto Sound⁠⁠⁠ [https://defactosound.com/]. Support the show and get ad-free episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠20k.org/plus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://20k.org/plus]. Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@dallastaylor.mp3?sub_confirmation=1] to see our video series. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mystery.20k.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://mystery.20k.org/]. Follow Dallas on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/dallastaylor.mp3/], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@dallastaylor.mp3], ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/dallastaylorsound], and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dallastaylor/]. Find out how you can get the iPhone 17 Pro at no cost with an eligible iPhone trade in at ⁠⁠att.com/iphone⁠⁠ [https://att.com/iphone], or by visiting an AT&T store. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Age of Audio: The Inside Story of Podcasting

The history of podcasting has rarely been told. But in this episode, the brightest minds in podcasting reveal the inside story of this medium: from the invention of RSS feeds, through the Gold Rush era of corporate investments, to the bubble bursting, and the rise of celebrity podcasts. Along the way, Ira Glass explains the origins of This American Life and Serial, Marc Maron recounts Obama visiting his garage, Roman Mars lays out his vision for indie podcasts, and so much more. This story was adapted from the feature documentary ⁠⁠Age of Audio⁠⁠ [https://www.aoamovie.com/]. Learn about this year’s Listener Stories competition and submit your story at ⁠⁠20k.org/2026⁠⁠ [https://20k.org/2026]. For updates on Age of Audio, visit the ⁠⁠official website⁠⁠ [https://www.aoamovie.com/], or follow the film on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/aoamovie] and ⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@aoamovie]. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by ⁠⁠⁠Defacto Sound⁠⁠⁠ [https://defactosound.com/]. Support the show and get ad-free episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠20k.org/plus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://20k.org/plus]. Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@dallastaylor.mp3?sub_confirmation=1] to see our video series. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mystery.20k.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://mystery.20k.org/]. Follow Dallas on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/dallastaylor.mp3/], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@dallastaylor.mp3], ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/dallastaylorsound], and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dallastaylor/]. Find out how you can get the iPhone 17 Pro at no cost with an eligible iPhone trade in at ⁠⁠att.com/iphone⁠⁠ [https://att.com/iphone], or by visiting an AT&T store. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month Shopify trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/20k⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://shopify.com/20k]. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quo.com/20k⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.quo.com/20k] for 20% of your first 6 months of business phone software. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Poop Song Conspiracy

One day, Ethan had an unfortunate bathroom incident. Then, he found an entire collection of songs online with his name in the title… and they all seemed to be about that embarrassing moment. That experience sent Ethan and his sister down a bizarre rabbit hole involving AI music, lots of poop jokes, and possibly the world’s most prolific songwriter. This story comes from the Hyperfixed [https://www.hyperfixedpod.com/] podcast. Learn about this year’s Listener Stories competition and submit your story at 20k.org/2026 [https://20k.org/2026]. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by ⁠Defacto Sound⁠ [https://defactosound.com/]. Support the show and get ad-free episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠20k.org/plus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://20k.org/plus]. Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@dallastaylor.mp3?sub_confirmation=1] to see our video series. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mystery.20k.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://mystery.20k.org/]. Follow Dallas on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/dallastaylor.mp3/], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@dallastaylor.mp3], ⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/dallastaylorsound], and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dallastaylor/]. Follow Hyperfixed [https://www.hyperfixedpod.com/] wherever you get your podcasts. Hear A Song About Ethan [https://open.spotify.com/track/31KxhJcgE6PevuYPRNTNG2?si=505a68e5cdd842ce] by Matt Farley, or request a custom song [https://moternmedia.com/custom-songs] by him. Find out how you can get the iPhone 17 Pro at no cost with an eligible iPhone trade in at att.com/iphone [https://att.com/iphone], or by visiting an AT&T store. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Heartfelt Music of Bluey w/ Composer Joff Bush

What makes the music of Bluey feel so warm and alive? In this episode, Dallas travels to Brisbane, Australia to visit the studio of Bluey’s composer Joff Bush [https://www.joffbush.com/]. There, Joff reveals the quirky instruments, musical easter eggs, and songwriting philosophy behind this beloved series. Along the way, he breaks down the music of two iconic Bluey episodes, “Sleepytime” and “The Sign.” Learn about this year’s Listener Stories competition and submit your story at 20k.org/2026 [https://20k.org/2026]. See Dallas tour Joff's studio on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Onja4f9Qfw]. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by ⁠Defacto Sound⁠ [https://defactosound.com/]. Support the show and get ad-free episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠20k.org/plus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://20k.org/plus]. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mystery.20k.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://mystery.20k.org/]. Follow Dallas on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/dallastaylor.mp3/], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@dallastaylor.mp3], ⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/dallastaylorsound], and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dallastaylor/]. Find out how you can get the iPhone 17 Pro at no cost with an eligible iPhone trade in at att.com/iphone [https://att.com/iphone], or by visiting an AT&T store. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]